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College head detained for corruption

By Zheng Caixiong (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-13 09:01

GUANGZHOU: Public concern that corruption is spreading to the ivory tower is increasing after the president of Zhanjiang Normal Institute in Guangdong was sacked and detained for suspected corruption.

Guo Zeshen, 55, was detained on Sept 25 for allegedly taking bribes over school construction, local authorities confirmed Monday.

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The case follows the recent arrests of two other university officials in central China for similar reasons.

Many teachers and students cheered when Guo's detention was announced at the institute on Sept 28. Local teachers said Guo, considered the "dictator of the institute", might have accepted bribes of more than 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) from construction and other projects.

Liang Ying, Party secretary of the institute, has taken charge of the institute's overall work.

Last month, two senior officials of Wuhan University in central China's Hubei province were also dismissed because of alleged corruption.

Executive vice-president Chen Zhaofang, 59, and executive deputy Party secretary Long Xiaole, 61, were arrested on Sept 13 and 25 respectively.

The two cases seriously damaged the reputation of the prestigious university, a teacher from the institute said.

Liu Jianfu, an associate professor from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, said academic corruption has become serious in some universities and colleges.

"In addition to embezzlement cases, many professors and teachers have been investigated for offering and accepting bribes for promotion and evaluation of their professional titles in recent years," Liu told China Daily Monday.

He urged universities, colleges and relevant government departments to introduce new systems to help check and balance the power of university presidents and other senior officials to prevent campus corruption.

"The corruption cases happening in campuses have damaged the image of Chinese universities and colleges," said Wang Chaomin, a local white-collar employee.

"I hope relevant departments can soon take concrete and effective measures to prevent and fight campus corruption," he told China Daily.

Many campus corruption cases have been reported over the past five years:

Li Haiying, former deputy president of Wuhan University of Engineering, was sentenced to life in prison after he accepted bribes and misappropriated public funds valued at more than 14 million yuan.

Li Jinhe, former vice-president of Hubei University, was given 13 years in jail for accepting bribes of more than 800,000 yuan.

Bai Tongping, former Party secretary of Zhejiang University of Science & Technology, got 11 years in prison for taking 650,000 yuan worth of bribes.

Hui Yande, former president of Yan'an University, was jailed for 13 years for taking bribes of 600,000 yuan.

Wu Shiming, former deputy president of Tongji University, got 14 years in jail for corruption.